Faculty / Staff
March 30, 2023 2026-05-04 16:54Faculty & Staff
Learn From Dedicated Physician Assistant Educators
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at Rocky Mountain College is led by faculty and staff who are committed to your growth—from your first semester through your first role as a PA.
Our team brings experience from family medicine, emergency care, surgery, orthopedics, women’s health, hospital medicine, cardiology and other specialties across Montana and the intermountain West. In a small-college environment, they know you by name, understand your goals, and support you through a demanding curriculum and supervised clinical experiences.
“My professors were flexible, supportive, and genuinely invested in my success. That small-college environment made it much less intimidating to step into PA school and then into practice.”
— Lauren, MPAS ’23 – Physician Assistant, Montana
MPAS Program Leadership
Program Director
Carrie Hall, MPAS, PA-C
Program Director, Assistant Professor
- Phone: (406) 657-1192
- Office: Conner Hall 112
- Email: carrie.hall@rocky.edu
Medical Director
David W. Shenton Jr., MD, CSCS
Medical Director
- Phone: (406) 657-1197
- Office: Conner Hall 112
- Email: david.shenton@rocky.edu
Academic Coordinator
Jennifer Beverly, DMSc, PA-C
Academic Coordinator, Assistant Professor
- Phone: (406) 657-1181
- Office: Conner Hall 115
- Email: jennifer.beverly@rocky.edu
Co-Directors of Clinical Education
Jill Powell, MS, PA-C
Co-Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor
- Phone: (406) 657-1199
- Office: Conner Hall 117
- Email: jill.powell@rocky.edu
Lauren Rucker, MS, PA-C
Co-Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor
- Phone: (406) 657-1149
- Office: Conner Hall 117
- Email: lauren.rucker@rocky.edu
Core Faculty
Brady Ruff, DMSc, PA-C
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (406) 657-1148
- Office: Conner Hall 113
- Email: brady.ruff@rocky.edu
Caroline Deigert, DMSc, PA-C
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (406) 657-1191
- Office: Conner Hall 128
- Email: deigert.c@rocky.edu
Paul MacMillan, MPAS, PA-C
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (406) 657-1183
- Office: Conner Hall 107
- Email: paul.macmillan@rocky.edu
Meagan Henderson, MPAS, PA-C
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (406) 657-1193
- Office: Conner Hall 116
- Email: meagan.henderson@rocky.edu
Contributing Faculty (Biology & Mathematics)
These faculty support the MPAS program through foundational coursework in biology and mathematics.
Holly Basta, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
- Phone: (406) 657-1089
- Office: Bair Science Center 101B
- Email: holly.basta@rocky.edu
Mark Osterlund, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
- Phone: (406) 657-7382
- Office: Bair Science Center 101E
- Email: mark.osterlund@rocky.edu
William Braubach, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
- Phone: (406) 657-1088
- Office: Bair Science Center 118-003
- Email: william.braubach@rocky.edu
Program Staff
Program staff ensure that admissions, scheduling, accreditation, and day-to-day operations run smoothly so faculty and students can focus on education and patient care.
Amy Kintz
Assistant to the Director of Clinical Education
- Phone: (406) 657-1079
- Office: Conner Hall 119
- Email: amy.kintz@rocky.edu
Tina Cook
Office Manager, Program Review Coordinator
- Phone: (406) 657-1190
- Office: Conner Hall 101
- Email: tina.cook@rocky.edu
Admissions Contact
For questions about applying to the MPAS program, please contact:
Katie Heyneman
Assistant Director of Admissions
- Phone: (406) 657-1025
- Office: Eaton Hall, 3rd Floor
- Email: heynemank@rocky.edu
Program Office Contact
MPAS Program – Rocky Mountain College
- Phone: (406) 657-1190
- Office: Conner Hall
- Email: tina.cook@rocky.edu
Clinical Preceptors
In addition to on-campus faculty, MPAS students learn from a broad network of clinical preceptors across Montana and the intermountain West.
Our Clinical Partners
Rocky Mountain College collaborates with physicians and PAs in:
- Family medicine and primary care clinics
- Emergency departments and hospital medicine services
- Orthopedic and surgical practices
- Women’s health and Pediatrics
- Psychiatry and other specialty practices
- Rural and critical access hospitals, frontier clinics, and community health centers
“RMC does it again! Giving me amazing preceptees!! … This student was absolutely amazing… It’s not often you get a student who so naturally becomes part of the team, but he did exactly that… He stayed calm and focused in situations that would overwhelm many people. Any department would be incredibly lucky to have him.”
— Preceptor, Emergency Medicine – Williston, ND
“Our clinic has hosted medical students, nurse practitioner students, and many PA students. This Rocky student is a tribute to the rigorous education received at Rocky Mountain College and will always shine brightly as a member of our team. I would recommend her for any job, anywhere when she becomes a licensed physician assistant.”
— Preceptor, Dermatology – Helena, MT
“This Rocky student quickly evolved into an independent PA. Her knowledge base was far superior to that of her peers and rotating medical students… She is ready to practice medicine now. I only offer an elective transplant experience to the top students. Only three so far. She is one of them.”
— Preceptor, Surgery – Bozeman, MT
These clinical educators play a central role in helping students apply classroom knowledge, refine clinical judgment, and prepare for their first PA positions.
A Team Invested in Your Success
From your first questions about the program through graduation and beyond, the MPAS faculty and staff at Rocky Mountain College are committed to:
- High academic and professional standards
- Close mentorship and approachable support
- Preparing you to serve patients across all specialties
- Equipping you to practice in rural and underserved communities where PAs are urgently needed
If you’d like to know more about individual faculty members or their areas of expertise, please review the faculty bios above or contact the program office.
